Written Answers Monday 16 November 2009

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the planning for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: The organising committee for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will announce on 16 November that a funding boost has been agreed to strengthen our ability to deliver an outstanding games for Glasgow and Scotland. The increase follows a thorough review of the original budget prepared in 2007 as part of the bid for the games. The review carried out for the organising committee concluded that the original budget was insufficient to ensure that the games are delivered successfully and to the required standard. This is largely because of legislative changes, rising broadcasting costs and a more developed understanding of what is needed to deliver a successful games. The review also found that the level of contingency in the original budget was too low to provide cover for all the risks that have now been identified around the games.

  The games partners have concluded that, as a consequence of this review, the games’ budget should increase from £373.4 million to £453.6 million. The additional funding will come from a mix of public and private money. The Scottish Government will provide an additional £37 million and a £20 million reserve fund. Glasgow City Council will contribute an extra £9 million and the organising committee will raise an additional £14 million through increased commercial activities. All of these figures are expressed at 2007 prices to allow direct comparison with the bid budget. The additional resources will be made available over the next five financial years.

  The 2014 Commonwealth Games can be the catalyst for significant change and will generate enormous sporting, social and economic benefits for the whole of Scotland. The games need to be funded properly and the budget that is being announced will enable the potential benefits to be realised. The fact that 70% of the venues for the games are already in place and the reserve fund that is being held by government will help guarantee that there is no further pressure from the games on the public purse.

  Planning for the games is on track and there has been good progress with key developments such as the games village and the National Indoor Sports Arena as well as on infrastructure projects such as the M74 extension. The organising committee has its full senior staff team in place and is working well. Planning for the handover ceremony during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi is well underway and legislation has been made to protect the Glasgow 2014 brand and ensure that income from sponsorship can be maximised. The Commonwealth Games Federation has stated publicly that the Glasgow preparations are going well and that it has confidence in the arrangements in place.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19446 by Kenny MacAskill on 15 January 2009, what further consideration it has given to plans to make available to communities in Scotland neighbourhood crime maps, as introduced in England and Wales by the Home Office on 6 January 2009.

Kenny MacAskill: We have no immediate plans to replicate the Home Office scheme in Scotland, but will continue to monitor the impact of this innovative approach to public engagement with interest.

  The Scottish Government Justice and Communities Analytical Services Division worked with Scottish forces and Office of the Chief Statistician on the development of the crime domain in the 2009 Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2009 General Report was published by the Scottish Government on 29 October 2009, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49652). The report can also be accessed via the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/28104046/0.

  The SIMD crime domain measures the rate of recorded SIMD crime at small area level using 2007-08 recorded crime data and is based on five indicators of broad crime types: crimes of violence; domestic house breaking; vandalism; drug offences, and minor assault.

  The SIMD is presented at data zone level, enabling small pockets of deprivation to be identified. The data zones, which have a median population size of 767 in SIMD 2009, are ranked from most deprived (1) to least deprived (6,505) on the overall SIMD and on each of the individual domains. The result is a comprehensive picture of relative area deprivation across Scotland.

  The Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics website can be used to carry out more detailed analysis of the SIMD through comparison of the results with a range of socio-economic indicators:

  www.sns.gov.uk

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19446 by Kenny MacAskill on 15 January 2009, what enhancements it is making to the crime level data for the 2009 index and when it expects this data to be published.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government published the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2009 General Report on 29 October 2009, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49652). The report can also be accessed via the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/28104046/0.

  The SIMD crime domain measures the rate of recorded SIMD crime at small area level using 2007-08 recorded crime data and is based on five indicators of broad crime types: crimes of violence; domestic house breaking; vandalism; drug offences, and minor assault.

  No changes have been made to the crime domain indicators since SIMD 2006. As a result, the indicators and the overall domains between SIMD 2006 and SIMD 2009 are directly comparable.

  The SIMD is presented at data zone level, enabling small pockets of deprivation to be identified. The data zones, which have a median population size of 767 in SIMD 2009, are ranked from most deprived (1) to least deprived (6,505) on the overall SIMD and on each of the individual domains. The result is a comprehensive picture of relative area deprivation across Scotland.

  A new SIMD 2009 interactive mapping tool has been designed. The Full Interactive Mapping option allows the user to zoom in and out of any area of Scotland selecting SIMD and contextual data for any datazone they wish. It also allows the user to compare datazones. Both road and aerial mapping are available

  The Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics can be used to carry out more detailed analysis of the SIMD through comparison of the results with a range of socio-economic indicators. http://www.sns.gov.uk/.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of its Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2008-09 statistical bulletin, what disposals were issued to those offenders who committed (a) homicide, (b) attempted murder, (c) serious assault, (d) robbery, (e) vandalism, (f) reckless conduct with firearms, (g) minor assault and (h) other crimes and offences in the Lothian and Borders police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The statistics in this bulletin are derived from returns submitted by police forces in Scotland in respect of crimes and offences recorded by them in which a firearm is alleged to have been used. It is not possible to identify from these returns how many of the individual offences resulted in individuals subsequently being proceeded against in court.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of its Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2008-09 statistical bulletin, what action it will take to tackle the increase in the number of attempted murders involving firearms in the Lothians and Borders police force area from one in 2007-08 to 11 in 2008-09.

Kenny MacAskill: The official statistics, published on 27 October by Scotland’s Chief Statistician, show that there was an overall fall in firearms offences of 17% for Scotland. I am confident that Lothian and Borders police are taking appropriate action to tackle the misuse of firearms in their local area.

  Funding for police forces is at its highest ever level, £1.115 billion in 2009-10. In June 2009 we passed the milestone of 1,000 additional officers for the first time, well ahead of the pledge to do so by the end of this Parliament.

  Earlier this year we launched an award-winning campaign to highlight the dangers of firearms, but more can always be done to protect our communities. We need a robust firearms regime - more straightforward for legitimate users to comply with and more efficient for the police to administer and enforce. Above all there must be a much greater focus on public safety. The Calman Commission recommended devolution of air weapons. I will continue to press Westminster for full devolution of firearms to the Scottish Parliament.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of its Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2008-09 statistical bulletin, what firearms were used by those offenders who committed (a) homicide, (b) attempted murder, (c) serious assault, (d) robbery, (e) vandalism, (f) reckless conduct with firearms, (g) minor assault and (h) other crimes and offences in the Lothian and Borders police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table:

  Crimes and offences recorded by Lothian and Borders police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used by crime/offence type and main firearm used, in financial year 2008-09.

  Main Firearm Used

  

 Crime/Offence
 Shotgun
 Rifle
 Pistol/ Revolver
 Air Weapon
 Imitation
 Unidentified
 Other
 Total


 Homicide
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Attempted Murder
 3
 1
 5
 0
 0
 1
 1
 11


 Serious Assault
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0
 2


 Robbery
 1
 0
 5
 0
 0
 2
 0
 8


 Vandalism
 0
 1
 0
 91
 0
 8
 5
 105


 Reckless Conduct with firearms
 1
 2
 0
 18
 2
 2
 9
 34


 Firearms Act 1968 Offences1
 2
 0
 1
 5
 7
 0
 5
 20


 Minor Assault
 1
 0
 3
 11
 2
 0
 18
 35


 Other crimes and offences
 7
 2
 8
 24
 7
 6
 20
 74


 Total
 15
 6
 23
 150
 18
 20
 58
 290



  Source: Scottish Government annual collection of Recorded Crimes and Offences involving firearms.

  Note: 1. Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime and cause fear of violence. Does not include other miscellaneous offences.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the publication of its Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2007-08 statistical bulletin, what firearms were used by those offenders who committed (a) homicide, (b) attempted murder, (c) serious assault, (d) robbery, (e) vandalism, (f) reckless conduct with firearms, (g) minor assault and (h) other crimes and offences in the Lothian and Borders police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table:

  Crimes and offences recorded by Lothian and Borders police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used by crime/offence type and main firearm used, in financial year 2007-08.

  Main Firearm Used

  

 Crime/Offence
 Shotgun
 Rifle
 Pistol/ Revolver
 Air weapon
 Imitation
 Unidentified
 Other
 Total


 Homicide
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Attempted Murder
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Serious Assault
 0
 0
 0
 5
 0
 0
 6
 11


 Robbery
 0
 0
 7
 0
 0
 2
 1
 10


 Vandalism
 1
 1
 0
 70
 0
 1
 5
 78


 Reckless Conduct with firearms
 1
 0
 0
 23
 1
 0
 4
 29


 Firearms Act 1968 Offences1
 0
 0
 1
 11
 14
 1
 10
 37


 Minor Assault
 0
 0
 0
 16
 10
 2
 33
 61


 Other crimes and offences
 1
 0
 0
 14
 13
 7
 18
 53


 Total
 3
 1
 8
 140
 38
 13
 78
 281



  Source: Scottish Government annual collection of Recorded Crimes and Offences involving firearms.

  Note: 1. Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime and cause fear of violence. Does not include other miscellaneous offences.

Employment

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been saved as a direct result of its accelerated capital programme and where.

John Swinney: Estimates of the employment impacts of the accelerated capital spending programme have been produced using the Scottish Government input-output model. The Budget for 2009-10 accelerates £293 million of capital spending into 2009-10, in addition to £53 million accelerated into 2008-09. In total, it is estimated that this accelerated capital investment will support over 5,000 jobs in the Scottish economy over the period.

  The Scottish input-output model provides estimates of impacts by industry sector, and shows that of the 5,000 jobs supported, over 2,500 jobs are in the construction sector with the remaining jobs spread across the other sectors of the economy.

Employment

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the number of jobs that have been saved as a direct result of its accelerated capital programme.

John Swinney: Estimates of the employment impacts of the accelerated capital programme have been produced using the Scottish Government input-output model. Details of the number of jobs supported in the Scottish economy by the programme can be found in Economy Recovery Plan: Update  document, which was published on 29 October 2009.

Energy

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27014 by Jim Mather on 18 September 2009, on what date it expects to issue its thermal generation guidance and whether it expects this to be before or after the UK Government issues its guidance.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28764 on 9 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Energy Efficiency

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding increasing the provision of thermal insulation in domestic homes.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government liaised closely with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in developing proposals and selection criteria for the area-based Home Insulation Scheme. This included a joint COSLA-Scottish Government workshop with local councils on 28 April 2009.

  The Scottish Government liaised with COSLA in the development of the Consultation on the Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which includes proposals for improving the energy efficiency of domestic homes. The Scottish Government is also involved in other relevant groups, such as the Fuel Poverty Forum, working alongside COSLA and other agencies, at which issues related to thermal insulation in homes are discussed.

Energy Efficiency

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the LEADER programme could have in increasing the provision of thermal insulation in domestic homes in rural areas.

Alex Neil: LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Developpement Economique Rurale) or (Links between actions for the development of rural communities) is part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (2007-13). The aim of LEADER is to enhance rural communities through helping those active in rural areas to consider the long term potential of their area and encourage the implantation of integrated, high quality, original strategies for sustainable local rural criteria.

  In respect of the project areas and criteria for support, it is for each LEADER local action group to determine what projects will deliver a wide community benefit within their area and which fall within their overall approved local strategy. These projects need to demonstrate an element of innovation and should not be used to fund areas that are already covered by other bodies or public sectors.

  Local authorities are members of the local action groups alongside representatives from the private and third sectors.

Energy Efficiency

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the provision of thermal insulation in domestic homes in South Ayrshire.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government funds the Energy Saving Trust to manage the Energy Saving Scotland advice network. The network comprises five Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centres (ESSACs) across Scotland, each providing local advice on a range of sustainability issues including potential sources of support to increase the thermal insulation of homes.

  The ESSAC for south west Scotland is delivered by the South Ayrshire Energy Agency, who have a proportionate share of the network’s cumulative target of reaching 220,000 unique customers in 2009-10.

  In common with households across Scotland, residents of South Ayrshire can apply to the Scottish Government’s Energy Assistance Package, which is a holistic scheme aimed at those in fuel poverty to help maximise incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes, including through the provision of insulation measures.

  We shall also consider in due course a bid made by South Ayrshire Council for participation in the Scottish Government’s Home Insulation Scheme in 2010-11.

  South Ayrshire Council’s fifth progress report, under the Home Energy Conservation Act (1995), describes a range of initiatives, including those in relation to thermal insulation in domestic homes that contributed to an estimated overall improvement in energy efficiency of 19% between 1997 and 2007.

Fire Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate research to investigate the link between deprivation, including social trends, and fire, as recommended in the report, Scotland Together: A study examining fire deaths and injuries in Scotland .

Fergus Ewing: Substantial evidence already exists of the links between a range of socio-economic factors and dwelling fires. The Scotland Together report highlights that those agencies already tackling such factors should consider how fire prevention can become an integral part of their wider planning and individual case management.

  At ministerial level, the Scottish Government is also committed to establishing the mechanisms required to facilitate effective cross-agency working.

Fire Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to develop common data-sharing protocols to facilitate information sharing among all agencies involved in community safety, as recommended in the report, Scotland Together: A study examining fire deaths and injuries in Scotland .

Fergus Ewing: We support the principle of professionals from all disciplines, including fire, legally sharing relevant information which contributes to the safety of our communities. We would encourage local government to work towards an appropriate data-sharing solution that meets their needs.

Fire Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop a Scottish community safety toolkit as an electronic resource for the fire and rescue services, as recommended in the report, Scotland Together: A study examining fire deaths and injuries in Scotland .

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government welcomes the principle of a central resource and will work closely with the fire and rescue services to establish how we might support the hosting facilities for an online resource.

  But in doing so, we need to ensure the delivery of a cost-effective solution, which draws on resources already available, and is regularly updated and utilised by the eight fire and rescue services.

Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment was carried out of the possibility of funding the Glasgow Airport Rail Link by alternative means, including the non-profit distributing model.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Glasgow Airport Rail Link was not deemed suitable for construction under the non-profit distributing model.

Stewart Stevenson: Previously, in developing the financial business case for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project, several contracting strategies and funding options had been considered by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), in accordance with the requirements of the Scottish Government’s Value for Money (VfM) Assessment Guidance. This detailed analysis was undertaken by SPT between April 2006 and January 2007, and considered all funding options available at that time.

  The analysis determined that for the agreed contracting strategy the option to (1) fund all of the main line works and railway systems through Network Rail’s Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) funding and (2) the branch line civils works through conventional capital grant funding would provide the value for money solution when compared against the Design Build Finance and Transfer (DBFT) option, which is in itself consistent with the characteristics of non-profit distributing (NPD) model.

  The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth told the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee on 3 November why he did not consider it would have been possible to have financed the whole GARL project through Network Rail’s Regulated Asset Base (RAB). The reasons were twofold. First, it was not clear that it was practical or straightforward to include the considerable amount of site preparation activity on the RAB. Second, the amount of expenditure to be put on the RAB has of necessity to be prioritised and, if applied to GARL, would have jeopardised the investment process. Finally, it should be noted that inclusion of expenditure on the RAB can only ultimately be determined by the regulator.

Gypsies/Travellers

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it has taken to survey the numbers of (a) Gypsy/Travellers, (b) Gypsy/Traveller caravans and (c) pitches accessible to Gypsy/Travellers in each year since 2001.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government gathers this information through the Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland - Twice Yearly Count . The count began in July 1998 and gathers information on Gypsy/Traveller households on official sites, private sites and unauthorised encampments. The Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland – Twice Yearly Count publications from 2002 onwards are available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent .

Health

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27687 by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 October 2009, whether it will make it its policy to make mandatory the guidance issued by the Scottish Medicines Consortium on the drugs that should be made available by the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards and clinicians in Scotland are already expected to take full account of advice provided by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in the planning and provision of NHS services. Drugs that are accepted by SMC, or their equivalents, are expected to be available within NHSScotland. This means that NHS boards must offer these treatments.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support people with myasthenia gravis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s approach to providing services for people living with long term conditions, such as myasthenia gravis, is outlined in the Long Term Conditions Action Plan, which was issued to NHS boards as CEL 23 (2009) on 16 June 2009.

  In addition, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has developed generic clinical standards for all neurological conditions, which it expects to launch formally in January 2010. They will be accompanied by a self-evaluation framework for NHS boards’ use, and an implementation and improvement plan containing detailed tools and techniques for service improvement. The development of these standards forms part of a comprehensive programme of work being planned by NHS QIS over the next five years to support continuous quality improvement in neurological services.

  All of this work will help NHS boards to fulfil their responsibility for the planning and provision of services that meet the needs of those living in their area with neurological conditions such as myasthenia gravis.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary received training to provide adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: Staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary received training to provide adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment from the UK’s nationally commissioned ECMO centre at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester in November 2007, with further training in 2008.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason a patient was transferred to Sweden for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment in July 2009 rather than to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment facility at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was considered as an option prior to the transfer of a patient to Sweden for such treatment in July 2009.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was not available to provide adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment to patients at an earlier stage of the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak.

Nicola Sturgeon: Glenfield Hospital in Leicester is the UK’s nationally commissioned centre for adult respiratory ECMO and through UK national specialist commissioning arrangements, adult patients from across the UK are referred there for treatment. Leicester is and remains the gateway and first option for access to this treatment in the context of the current H1N1 pandemic.

  The UK National Commissioning Group has commissioned additional surge capacity in the context of the pandemic at Leicester, the Royal Brompton and Papworth Hospitals. When this capacity is reached, Stockholm is the final option for referral for treatment under current commissioning arrangements.

  In Scotland, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is the only site with ECMO machines and a clinical team trained by Leicester to provide adult respiratory ECMO. However, it has not been accredited or commissioned through the process outlined above and therefore will only be considered for the provision of ECMO when current UK and Stockholm capacity has been reached, and only with the agreement and ongoing support and advice of Leicester clinicians in the context of the current H1N1 pandemic.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27461 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 November 2009 indicating that adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment can be provided at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where additional capacity is required and such a step is agreed with the Leicester clinicians, whether arrangements are in place to transfer patients from outwith the NHS Grampian area to Aberdeen should they require adult respiratory ECMO treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: Any patient for whom ECMO treatment was to be undertaken at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where current accredited UK and Stockholm capacity has been reached and with the agreement, support and advice of Leicester clinicians, would require to be transferred using standard critical care transfer processes already in place in NHSScotland.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is contributing funding to the doubling of facilities for adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.

Nicola Sturgeon: The additional cost of doubling ECMO capacity at Glenfield is being met from within the existing budget of the UK National Commissioning Group, to which the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland contributes.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many home repossessions there have been in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: There are no separate repossessions figures available for Scotland.

  Data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show the following numbers of repossessions in the UK in each of the last five years:

  

 Year
 Number of Repossessions


 2008
 40,000


 2007
 27,100


 2006
 22,700


 2005
 15,000


 2004
 8,000

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have purchased properties under the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme since March 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The number of properties purchased under the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme between April and the end of June, broken down by local authority is as follows:

  

 Local Authority
 April - End June


 Aberdeenshire
 15


 Argyll and Bute
 1


 City of Aberdeen
 7


 City of Edinburgh
 12


 City of Glasgow
 32


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2


 East Ayrshire
 3


 Falkirk
 0


 Fife
 2


 Highland
 18


 Inverclyde
 3


 Perth and Kinross
 3


 South Lanarkshire
 14


 Stirling
 1


 West Lothian
 1


 Total
 114



  This information is recorded on the Sales Log monitoring database from returns completed by registered social landlords administering the New Supply Shared Equity scheme throughout Scotland. Due to the nature of the collection, there can be a time lag between the sale occurring and being recorded on the database.

  An update to Housing Statistics for Scotland – AHIP Summary will be published on the 27 November 2009 on the Scottish Government website and will include number of sales in the period July to September.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have purchased properties under the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme since March 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: The number of properties purchased under the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme between April and the end of June, broken down by local authority is as follows:

  

 Local Authority
 April - End June


 Aberdeenshire
 3


 City of Aberdeen
 24


 City of Edinburgh
 57


 City of Glasgow
 1


 Clackmannan
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0


 East Ayrshire
 0


 East Dunbartonshire
 0


 East Lothian
 16


 East Renfrewshire
 0


 Falkirk
 1


 Fife
 0


 Highland
 15


 Inverclyde
 0


 Midlothian
 10


 North Lanarkshire
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 4


 South Ayrshire
 0


 South Lanarkshire
 0


 Stirling
 10


 The Borders
 0


 West Lothian
 32


 Total
 173



  This information is recorded on the Sales Log monitoring database from returns completed by registered social landlords administering the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme throughout Scotland. Due to the nature of the collection, there can be a time lag between the sale occurring and being recorded on the database.

  An update to Housing Statistics for Scotland – AHIP Summary will be published on the 27 November on the Scottish Government website and will include number of sales in the period July to September.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for how many regulated tenancies determined by the Private Rented Housing Panel in 2008-09 the panel fixed a rent higher than that established by the local rent officer.

Alex Neil: I have asked Isabel Montgomery, President of the Private Rented Housing Panel to respond. Her response is as follows:

  In 2008, committees of the Private Rented Housing Panel determined a rent higher than that set by the statutory rent officer in 32 cases. For 2009 to the 31 October, the figure is 46 cases.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for how many regulated tenancies determined by the Private Rented Housing Panel in 2008-09 the panel fixed a rent lower than that established by the local rent officer.

Alex Neil: I have asked Isabel Montgomery, President of the Private Rented Housing Panel to respond. Her response is as follows:

  In 2008, committees of the Private Rented Housing Panel determined a rent lower than that set by the statutory rent officer in three cases. For 2009 to the 31 October, the figure is five cases.

Housing

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will lay before the Parliament the first annual report of the Private Rented Housing Panel as required by section 29 of the Housing Scotland Act 2006.

Alex Neil: I have asked Isabel Montgomery, President of the Private Rented Housing Panel, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  My annual report of the Private Rented Housing Panel, as required by Section 29 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, will be with the minister by Monday 16 November 2009. Thereafter it will be laid before Parliament as soon as practicable.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doses of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine were provided by GPs to priority categories of patients before the start of the predicted peak period of the virus, from end October to mid-November 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: Vaccine deliveries to GP practices began from 26 October 2009, and all GP practices now have an initial supply of vaccine to enable vaccination of patients who are in the priority groups.

  As announced on 21 October 2009, there will be a phased roll out of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme as vaccine supplies become available from manufactures.

  NHS Scotland have now received just under 550,000 doses of Pandemrix vaccine – around 40% of the total required for the 1.3 million priority groups as announced on 13 August 2009. The majority of this vaccine has been distributed to GP practices.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doses of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine will be available to GPs for each week until Christmas 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information depends on deliveries from the manufacturers.

  As announced on 21 October 2009, there will be a phased introduction as vaccine supplies become available from the manufacturers. Supplies are being sent to GP practices on a weekly basis to enable them to vaccinate the majority of the clinical at-risk groups by Christmas 2009.

  Based on manufactures’ delivery schedules, we are able to confirm delivery schedules to GP practices on a weekly basis only.

  NHS Scotland have now received just under 550,000 doses of Pandemrix vaccine – around 40% of the total required for the 1.3 million priority groups as announced on 13 August 2009.

Influenza

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s statement in the chamber on 29 October 2009 to accelerate the delivery of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme.

Nicola Sturgeon: As announced on 21 October and 29 October 2009, there will be a phased roll out of the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme as more vaccine supplies become available from the manufacturers. NHS Scotland is distributing vaccine supplies as soon as they are received into Scotland. All GP practices now have an initial supply of vaccine to enable them to carry out vaccination of patients who are in the priority groups.

Influenza

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the software required by GP surgeries to help identify priority patients for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine was not in place sooner.

Nicola Sturgeon: The final specification for software development to help GP practices identify priority patients for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine was issued to GP IT suppliers as soon as practically possible, once the full information required for the specification became available in mid-October 2009.

Influenza

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs have all software in place required to help identify priority patients for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

Nicola Sturgeon: Given that the clinical priority groups for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination are similar to those for the annual seasonal flu vaccination, GP practices are already able to identify these patients prior to the new specific software being rolled out.

  Additionally, guidance was issued to practices on 19 October 2009 by the Chief Medical Officer on how to use their clinical software to identify priority patients for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

Licensing

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fees for public entertainment licences were waived for free events and how many fees for market-operating licences were waived for non-commercial organisations in the last year.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the analysis of the reports from local authorities on implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements will be published.

John Swinney: As I said to the member during oral questions on 29 October 2009, the government works with local government to assess the effectiveness and impact of single outcome agreements. The reports from local authorities on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements will be made available to Parliament shortly.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-8189, on 29 October 2009 which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1029-02.htm#Col20666.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have not submitted reports on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: All 32 local authorities have submitted reports on the implementation of the first round of single outcome agreements. These will be made available to Parliament shortly.

Mental Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were on waiting lists and what the waiting times were for child and adolescent mental health services in each year since 1999, also broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Historically this information was not recorded centrally, but we are currently working with NHS boards to put in place by April 2010 a referral to treatment waiting time target for specialist child and adolescent mental health services.

  This waiting time target means that by March 2013 no one will wait longer than 26 weeks from referral to treatment for specialist child and adolescent mental health services.

  The work with NHS boards includes ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to properly monitor their performance. Data definitions and systems will be piloted from January to March next year to give a final baseline for setting the trajectories to be achieved from April 2010.

Ministerial Engagements

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether foie gras has been served at any official engagements in 2009 and, if so, whether it will list the date and occasion.

John Swinney: Foie gras has been served as a small part of the menu at two official engagements in 2009, a dinner hosted for China stakeholders on 3 February 2009 and a dinner for Scottish Businesses on 10 February 2009.

  The contents of the two menus were provided by an outside Scottish catering company and ministers have issued instructions that Scottish produce should be served at such engagements.

NHS 24

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the SNP manifesto commitment, how many NHS 24 local mini-centres are now co-located with out-of-hours services in each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: In support of their three regional centres (Clydebank, South Queensferry and Aberdeen), the  Better Health, Better Care  action plan, published in December 2007, tasked NHS 24 to work towards establishing local services within all mainland health board areas. NHS 24 are seeking to establish this commitment further by developing centre in the Island NHS boards.

  The following table provides details of the progress against this action.

  

 Health Board Area
 Details of Local Service


 NHS Highland
 Inverness local centre launched in 2005 and co-located with local out-of-hours services and the Scottish Ambulance Service.


 NHS Grampian
 Service delivered from within Aberdeen Regional Centre.


 NHS Tayside
 Dundee local centre launched in 2005 and co-located with local out-of-hours services.


 NHS Lanarkshire
 East Kilbride local centre launched in 2005 and co-located with local out-of-hours services.


 NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 Kilmarnock local centre launched in 2005 and co-located with local out-of-hours services.


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 Dumfries local centre launched in 2005 and located within Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.


 NHS Fife
 Scottish Emergency Dental Service (SEDS) launched in 2007, based in Glenrothes and Glenrothes local centre launched in October 2009, co-located with SEDS.


 NHS Lothian
 Dedicated NHS 24 nursing resource located in South Queensferry Regional Centre to respond to Lothian based callers, launched in May 2006.


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 Glasgow local centre launched in June 2008, co-located with Glasgow Out-of Hours Service and Scottish Ambulance Service in Cardonald.


 NHS Borders
 Melrose local centre launched in May 2009 and located within Borders General Hospital. 


 NHS Forth Valley
 Falkirk local centre launched in December 2008 and co-located with local out-of-hours services.


 NHS Orkney
 Local centre in development and scheduled to become operational from spring 2010 within Balfour Hospital.


 NHS Shetland
 Discussions at an early stage for a future service. 


 NHS Western Isles
 Discussions at an early stage for a future service.



  The aim of developing local service is to build NHS 24 capacity, aid the recruitment of specialist nurses and improve the performance of the NHS 24 service. These centres support the development of close relationships with the host territorial health boards and aim to improve patient satisfaction levels through better local service delivery. They afford the opportunity for flexible working and improved work-life balance for the nursing workforce within these localities.

  All these sites have resilient telephony and IT links, and operate as part of an integrated national network. The telephony design is aimed at ensuring patient calls are answered at their closest regional centre and if a consultation with a clinician is required the call is routed to their designated local centre. However, in the case of serious and urgent calls, if a local nurse is unavailable within a pre-determined timescale, the call will automatically look for the first available nurse to ensure patient safety is maintained at all times.

  NHS 24 is also working with the Scottish Ambulance Service on plans to relocate the East of Scotland Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre within NHS 24’s regional centre at Norseman House in South Queensferry. This relocation is due for completion in early 2010.

  This follows the successful co-location in 2008 of NHS 24’s Glasgow local centre, NHS 24 headquarters, the Scottish Ambulance Service’s West of Scotland Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s out-of-hours service control centre at Cardonald.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what overspends are anticipated for each NHS board in 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS Scotland health boards are anticipating to either break even or underspend in 2009-10. No board is anticipating an overspend.

NHS Staff

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to progress a full analysis of the role of microbiologists and what the outcome has been of the Chief Nursing Officer’s raising this matter with the Chief Medical Officer.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Infection Control Doctors Network was recently established. This body, together with the Scottish Microbiology Forum, will allow for a full analysis of the role and tasks undertaken by microbiologists. A full analysis has begun and a report will go to the HAI Task Force as soon as this work is complete.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued in relation to (a) banning gagging or similar clauses in NHS contracts, (b) requiring removal of gagging or similar clauses in NHS contracts agreed prior to the coming into force of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and (c) banning gagging or similar clauses in respect of clinical or patient safety issues from any settlement or termination of employment.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards in Scotland have responsibility for supporting staff. Employees are encouraged to raise concerns without fear of penalty or victimisation.

  All boards have delegated responsibility to ensure that there is a clear commitment to operate in an open, consistent and fair manner with an aim to create a no-blame culture. This commitment is underpinned by the Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies "Dealing With Employee Concerns" and "Management of Employee Conduct". The "Dealing with Employee Concerns" PIN includes a model Freedom of Speech Policy which each board is expected to adopt. If a member of staff in the NHS in Scotland has evidence of a compromise to patient or staff safety it is their duty to bring this to the attention of the appropriate manager.

NHS Waiting Times

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31889 by Andy Kerr on 2 March 2007, what the median hospital waiting time is for patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The majority of patients who require treatment for myasthenia gravis is undertaken mainly in primary care and hospital outpatient settings, with a small number of cases being treated as inpatient and day cases.

  Information on waiting times is only available centrally for outpatient appointments and for inpatient and day case treatment. Information published for the quarter ended 30 June 2009, shows that the median waiting time for a first outpatient consultation following a general practitioner referral was 42 days and 31 days for inpatient and day case treatment.

Planning

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to monitor the contribution of community planning partnerships to tackling unemployment.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what means the contributions of community planning partnerships to tackling unemployment are being measured.

Fiona Hyslop: Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) will each be considering, in the context of their community plan and their single outcome agreement (SOA) with the Scottish Government, what strategic improvements can be encouraged within their communities to facilitate economic growth and development, including tackling unemployment. The approach taken by each CPP will start from an assessment about what is important in and appropriate for their local area and it is important to consider each approach in its own right.

  Local Employability Groups or Economic Forums are the key groupings within CPPs who take responsibility for driving the theme around employment, unemployment and inactivity forward. These are multi-agency cross sectoral groups reflecting a coherent and joined-up approach from across the public, third and private sectors to this agenda. They report progress back to the main CPP. Additional support to these groups is given via Scottish Government’s Employability Team and the Employability Learning Network which has been established to provide additional support to CPPs to tackle this issue.

  Local Employability Partnerships access information from a variety of sources to populate their employability indicators.

  Some information about progress with tackling unemployment in each CPP area will also be the in the annual reports on implementation of the SOAs that CPPs make to their communities and to the Scottish Government. The answers to the questions S3W-28310 and S3W-28311 on 16 November 2009 provide further information about the SOA reports. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Planning

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent research there has been on the effectiveness of community planning partnerships.

John Swinney: Community planning in individual areas has been assessed by Audit Scotland as part of the audits of best value and community planning. The first round of audits is complete, with over a third being finalised in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

  Audit Scotland undertook an Initial Review of Community Planning in 2006, which provided a picture of Community Planning Partnerships developing their potential. The concordat between local and central government has increased the significance of community planning and Audit Scotland is planning to revisit the subject next year to assess the impact of partnerships in the latest context.

Planning

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent research there has been on the extent to which community planning partnerships ensure community involvement.

John Swinney: Community Planning in individual areas has been assessed by Audit Scotland as part of the Audits of Best Value and Community Planning. This assessment includes community engagement. The first round of audits is complete, with over a third being finalised in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

  Audit Scotland undertook an Initial Review of Community Planning in 2006, which provided a picture of Community Planning Partnerships developing their potential. The concordat between local and central government has increased the significance of community planning and Audit Scotland is planning to revisit the subject next year to assess the impact of partnerships in the latest context.

Procurement

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises are given a level playing field in tendering for public sector work.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Economic Recovery Programme states that we will do all we can to help Scottish businesses and we are committed to ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have fair and equal access to public sector contracts in Scotland. To achieve this, we have introduced the Public Contracts Scotland portal, providing businesses with easy access to contract opportunities. Earlier this year, I asked all public bodies to adopt six simple steps to improve access by small and medium-enterprises to contract opportunities. They are:

  Adopt the Supplier Charter;

  Use the Public Contracts Scotland advertising portal;

  Review contract award procedures;

  Use outcome based tender specifications;

  Include in terms and conditions a requirement that contractors pay any sub-contractors within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice, and

  Monitor spend with SMEs.

  I also announced, on 28 October 2009, that following discussion with Scottish Chambers of Commerce, the Scottish Government intends to introduce, in 2010, a national database for pre-qualification information, to reduce the burden of tendering for public contracts.

Procurement

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are taken to ensure that the references of tenderers for public sector work are rigorously checked to ensure that the tenderer can deliver the required quality.

John Swinney: The Scottish Procurement Directorate has published guidance on pre-qualification processes which provides advice to procurement staff on the evaluation of a tenderer’s ability to perform the contract to the required quality.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/11/16102303/supplierselection.

Procurement

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that changes to procurement processes redress any previous bias in favour of large organisations.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed whether more small and medium-sized enterprises are winning public sector contracts as a consequence of changes in policy.

John Swinney: One of the six single steps I announced on 28 April 2009 was that public bodies should monitor the proportion of their procurement spending with SMEs. At a national level, information from the Scottish Procurement Information Hub (covering 2005-06 to 2007-08) suggests that public procurement spending with SMEs has remained stable at around 48% of total public procurement spending. As Chair of the Procurement Reform Board I intend to monitor this figure closely.

Procurement

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water and other non-departmental public bodies have altered their procurement procedures and arrangements for subcontracting to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are given a level playing field in tendering for public sector work.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the question S3W-28748 on 16 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  I have asked all public bodies, including non-departmental public bodies, to review their procedures to ensure that SMEs have a fair opportunity to compete.

Regeneration

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the deadline for completion of work being funded by the Town Centre Regeneration Fund in light of the delay in announcing the second round of funding.

Alex Neil: The Town Centre Regeneration Fund consists of capital accelerated from 2010-11 into 2009-10, and requires to be spent in this financial year. It is therefore still the case that grant requires to be claimed in this financial year.

Renewable Energy

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Lottery in relation to funding and supporting renewable projects in the West of Scotland.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is aware that the Big Lottery Fund has supported a number of renewable energy projects in Scotland. Scottish Government officials recently met with Big Lottery staff based in Scotland to emphasise the importance of continuing support for community renewable energy projects.

  The Scottish Government supports the development of renewable energy projects for charities and not-for-profit community-based organisations through the Community And Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). The scheme provides eligible organisations with free advice and potentially grant funding for the installation of devices such as small wind turbines, micro hydro, solar energy systems, heat pumps and woodfuel boilers. A network of CARES Development Officers covers the whole of Scotland.

  In March this year the Scottish Government published guidance to help communities develop their own renewable energy projects. The Community Renewable Energy Toolkit includes advice on the available technologies and highlights some of the issues which communities may need to address. It also signposts potential sources of funding, including the Big Lottery Fund. The Toolkit is available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/20155542/0.

Renewable Energy

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to organisations that wish to invest in renewable technologies to make their businesses more environmentally friendly.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government provides support for businesses to invest in renewable energy through a number of schemes. These include the Energy Saving Scotland small business loan scheme, which provides small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with interest free loans of up to £100,000 to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

  The Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme is specifically targeted at SMEs and is helping businesses to reduce emissions and potentially save money, while supporting jobs in forestry and the supply chain. A recent round of the scheme saw over £1 million allocated to business across Scotland.

  The Scottish Rural Development Programme offers financial support to eligible businesses to take up renewable energy technology and reduce their emissions.

  In addition, businesses who wish to invest in renewables and energy efficiency initiatives may be eligible for support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Road Accidents

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents involving tractors and other agricultural vehicles there have been on (a) trunk and (b) non-trunk roads in the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of injury road accidents involving agricultural vehicles on trunk and non-trunk roads in the last five years.

  

 Year
 Trunk
 Non-trunk
 Total


 2004
 19
 39
 58


 2005
 18
 57
 75


 2006
 22
 58
 80


 2007
 12
 67
 79


 2008
 14
 59
 73

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to identify areas of high usage by tractors and other agricultural vehicles on the trunk road network and how it is seeking to improve safety on these routes.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold information on levels of usage of tractors and agricultural vehicles on the trunk road network.

Roads

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to date is of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route public consultation.

Stewart Stevenson: No separate figures for the total costs associated with the public consultation process have been recorded. However, the cost of the two exhibitions held in January 2007 and October 2007 are detailed as follows, and include the cost of venues and publicity material:

  January 2007 - £103,529.91.

  October 2007 - £103,427.64.

Roads

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost to date is of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, including the cost of the public consultation.

Stewart Stevenson: The cost of preparatory work undertaken, up to the end of October 2009, is approximately £91 million.

  Similar to other trunk road projects, this has included scheme development, environmental impact assessment, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, publication of statutory documentation, topographical surveys, ground investigations and acquisition of property by voluntary agreement.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28094 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 November 2009, when the tenancy of Nether Howcleugh will expire.

Stewart Stevenson: The tenancy of Nether Howcleugh will expire on 31 March 2010.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28095 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 November 2009, which properties and smallholdings purchased by the Scottish Office prior to the upgrade of the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway are owned by the Scottish Ministers.

Stewart Stevenson: The properties acquired by the Scottish Office for the upgrade of the A74 in Dumfries and Galloway which remain in the ownership of the Scottish Ministers are:

  Raecleugh Farm,

  Longbedholm Cottage,

  Milagro and

  Cauldwellknowe Farm.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28094 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 November 2009, which properties and smallholdings purchased by the Scottish Office prior to the upgrade of the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway and now owned by the Scottish Ministers are tenanted.

Stewart Stevenson: The residential properties known as Milagro and Cauldwellknowe Farm which are owned by the Scottish Ministers are tenanted.

Roads

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28095 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 November 2009, whether it intends to declare properties and smallholdings purchased by the Scottish Office prior to the upgrade of the M74 in Dumfries and Galloway and now owned by the Scottish Ministers as surplus to requirements and, if so, (a) which properties and smallholdings will be so declared and (b) when they will become surplus to requirements.

Stewart Stevenson: It is our intention to declare the remaining properties owned by the Scottish Ministers which were acquired for the upgrade on the A74 in Dumfries and Galloway surplus to requirements. Raecleugh and Longbedholm Cottage have already been declared surplus and Transport Scotland’s appointed agent is preparing schedules with a view to advertising the properties on the open market in the spring.

  Cauldwellknowe Farm will be declared surplus once the access road serving the property has been upgraded and adopted by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Milagro will be declared surplus once the issues regarding access rights are resolved.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since April 2007 referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009, broken down, where applicable, by (a) procurement method, (b) date when the outline business case was approved and (c) date when construction commenced.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for how many and which of the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since April 2007 referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009 construction commenced in financial years budgeted for by the current administration.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for how many and which of the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since April 2007 referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009 construction commenced in financial years budgeted for by the previous administration.

Fiona Hyslop: The 236 new or refurbished school projects which have been completed since May 2007 are set out in the following table, with the procurement method and, where known, the dates when construction commenced and the new facilities were completed or occupied. The Scottish Government, like the Scottish Executive previously, does not approve or collect details regarding the timing of outline business cases for individual school projects. At all stages they remain matters for local authorities.

  

 Local Authority
 School
 Procurement Method
 Construction Start Date
 Completion or Occupation Date


 Aberdeen City
 Airyhall / Braeside Primary 
 NPD
 January 2008
 August 2009


 
 Hanover Street Primary
 Other
 April 2007
 February 2009


 
 Heathryburn Primary
 NPD
 January 2008
 May 2009


 Aberdeenshire
 Auchnagatt Primary
 Other
 April 2007
 August 2007


 
 Balmedie Primary and Nursery
 Other
 May 2007
 June 2007


 
 Kemnay Academy
 Other
 May 2007
 August 2007


 
 Kincardine O’Neil Primary 
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Kinellar Primary
 Other
 August 2006
 August 2007


 Angus
 Airlie Primary
 Other
 April 2008
 February 2009


 
 Burnside Primary
 PPP
 December 2006
 February 2008


 
 Carlogie Primary 
 PPP
 January 2008
 December 2008


 
 Carnoustie High 
 PPP
 October 2006
 January 2009


 
 Inverbrothock Primary
 Other
 February 2008
 July 2008


 
 Langlands Primary 
 PPP
 February 2008
 June 2009


 
 Montrose Academy
 Other
 July 2006
 May 2007


 
 Newtyle Primary
 Other
 October 2006
 February 2008


 
 Seaview Primary
 Other
 January 2008
 July 2009


 
 Strathmore Primary 
 PPP
 October 2006
 January 2008


 
 Tealing Primary
 Other
 August 2006
 July 2007


 
 Whitehills Primary
 PPP
 December 2006
 February 2008


 
 Woodlands Primary
 PPP
 October 2006
 November 2007


 Argyll and Bute
 Dunoon Grammar
 NPD
 September 2005
 September 2007


 
 Garelochhead Primary
 Other
 
 August 2009


 
 Gigha Primary 
 Other
 February 2007
 August 2007


 
 Hermitage Academy
 NPD
 July 2006
 February 2008


 
 Lochgilphead High 
 NPD
 September 2005
 October 2007


 
 Lochgilphead Primary
 NPD
 September 2005
 October 2007


 
 Rockfield Primary 
 NPD
 September 2005
 September 2007


 
 Drummore Learning Centre
 NPD
 September 2005
 September 2007


 
 St. Columba’s Primary
 NPD
 September 2005
 September 2007


 
 Whitegates Learning Centre
 NPD
 September 2005
 October 2007


 Clackmannanshire
 Alloa High School
 PPP
 March 2007
 January 2009


 
 Alva Academy
 PPP
 April 2007
 March 2009


 
 Deerpark Primary
 Other
 
 August 2007


 
 Lornshill Academy
 PPP
 April 2007
 August 2009


 Dumfries and Galloway
 Annan Academy
 Other
 
 2008-09


 Cargenbridge Primary
 Other
 May 2008
 May 2009


 
 Castle Douglas Primary
 PPP
 January 2008
 August 2009


 
 Douglas Ewart High 
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Dumfries RC Primary
 PPP
 March 2008
 August 2009


 
 Kelloholm Primary
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Lincluden Primary
 Other
 May 2008
 August 2009


 
 Sanquhar Academy
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Troqueer Primary
 Other
 May 2008
 August 2009


 Dundee City
 Claypotts Castle Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 May 2008


 
 Craigowl Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2008


 
 Downfield Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2008


 
 Fintry Primary
 PPP
 February 2008
 April 2009


 
 Grove Academy
 PPP
 April 2007
 August 2008


 
 Rowantree Primary
 PPP
 March 2008
 May 2009


 
 St. Andrew’s RC Primary 
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2008


 
 St. Paul’s RC Secondary
 PPP
 April 2007
 January 2009


 East Ayrshire
 Dunlop Primary
 Other
 
 December 2007


 
 Galston Primary
 Other
 
 August 2008


 
 Grange Academy 
 PPP
 July 2006
 September 2008


 
 Annanhil Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 September 2008


 
 Park School (Special)
 PPP
 July 2006
 September 2008


 
 Mauchline Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 October 2007


 
 Shortlees Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 October 2007


 
 St. Andrew’s Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 April 2008


 
 St. Joseph’s Academy
 PPP
 July 2006
 April 2008


 East Dunbartonshire
 Bearsden Academy
 PPP
 April 2007
 August 2009


 Bishopbriggs Academy
 PPP
 April 2007
 July 2009


 
 Douglas Academy
 PPP
 April 2007
 July 2009


 
 Kirkintilloch High 
 PPP
 April 2007
 August 2009


 
 Lenzie Academy
 Other
 
 August 2009


 
 St. Ninian’s High 
 PPP
 April 2007
 July 2009


 
 Torrance Primary
 Other
 
 October 2008


 
 Turnbull High 
 PPP
 April 2007
 July 2009


 East Lothian
 Dunbar Primary
 Other
 
 May 2008


 
 Longniddry Primary
 Other
 June 2007
 October 2008


 
 Prestonpans Primary
 Other
 June 2006
 August 2008


 
 Ross High School (ASN Unit)
 Other
 
 August 2008


 
 Sanderson Wynd Primary
 Other
 March 2007
 September 2008


 Edinburgh City
 Bonaly Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 November 2008


 
 Broughton High
 PPP
 March 2007
 February 2009


 
 Canal View Primary
 Other
 
 August 2007


 
 Craigroyston High
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2009


 
 Currie Primary
 Other
 
 August 2007


 
 Gorgie Mills (Special)
 Other
 October 2006
 February 2008


 
 Holyrood RC High 
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2009


 
 Juniper Green Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 March 2009


 
 Niddrie Mill Primary
 Other
 
 August 2008


 
 St. Francis Primary 
 Other
 
 August 2008


 
 Pentland Primary
 Other
 
 August 2007


 
 Redhall School (Special)
 Other
 
 April 2009


 
 Woodlands School (Special)
 Other
 October 2006
 June 2008


 Falkirk
 Denny High 
 NPD
 May 2007
 January 2009


 
 Falkirk High 
 NPD
 May 2007
 July 2009


 
 Grangemouth High 
 NPD
 May 2007
 January 2009


 
 Kinnaird Primary
 Other
 September 2006
 January 2008


 
 Larbert Village Primary
 Other
 August 2008
 August 2009


 
 Maddiston Primary
 Other
 June 2006
 August 2008


 
 St. Mungo’s High 
 NPD
 May 2007
 June 2009


 
 Wallaceston Primary
 Other
 February 2007
 August 2008


 Fife
 Buckhaven High
 Other
 October 2005
 September 2007


 
 Duloch Park Primary
 PPP
 November 2005
 August 2007


 
 Greyfriars Primary
 Other
 July 2006
 August 2007


 
 Lochgelly High
 Other
 September 2005
 October 2007


 
 St Andrew’s High
 Other
 September 2007
 December 2008


 
 Woodmill High
 Other
 April 2006
 January 2008


 Glasgow City
 Ashpark Primary
 Other
 December 2006
 December 2008


 
 Aultmore Park Primary 
 Other
 June 2007
 March 2009


 
 Cleeves Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 May 2008


 
 John Paul II Primary
 Other
 January 2006
 June 2007


 
 Merrylee Primary
 Other
 October 2006
 March 2009


 
 Miller Primary
 Other
 January 2006
 August 2007


 
 Oakwood Primary
 Other
 November 2006
 August 2008


 
 Our Lady of Peace Primary
 Other
 November 2006
 May 2008


 
 St. Bernard’s Primary
 Other
 May 2007
 November 2008


 
 St. Constantine’s Primary
 Other
 May 2007
 November 2008


 
 St. Fillan’s Primary
 Other
 May 2006
 April 2008


 
 St. Monica’s Primary
 Other
 March 2007
 April 2009


 Highland
 Acharacle Primary
 Other
 January 2008
 May 2009


 
 Cawdor Primary
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2007


 
 Dingwall Academy
 PPP
 April 2006
 August 2008


 
 Drummond School (Special)
 PPP
 May 2007
 May 2008



 Bunsgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis
 PPP
 May 2006
 August 2007


 
 Inshes Primary
 PPP
 April 2006
 August 2007


 
 Kinlochleven High and Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 August 2008


 
 Milburn Academy
 PPP
 January 2007
 November 2008


 
 Portree High 
 PPP
 April 2006
 August 2008


 
 Raasay Primary
 Other
 July 2007
 January 2008


 
 Thurso High
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Tomnacross Primary
 Other
 
 2008-09


 Inverclyde
 Inverclyde Academy
 Other
 February 2007
 December 2008


 
 Inverkip Primary 
 Other
 August 2006
 August 2007


 
 Newark Primary
 Other
 February 2007
 August 2008


 
 Wemyss Bay Primary
 Other
 June 2007
 August 2008


 Midlothian
 Bonnyrigg Primary
 Other
 June 2008
 August 2009


 
 Cuiken Primary
 Other
 June 2008
 August 2009


 
 Gorebridge Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 July 2007


 
 Lawfield Primary
 PPP
 October 2006
 October 2007


 
 Loanhead Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 July 2007


 
 St Margaret’s Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 July 2007


 
 Moorfoot Primary
 PPP
 October 2006
 July 2007


 
 Stobhill Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 July 2007


 
 Strathesk Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 October 2007


 
 Tynewater Primary
 PPP
 October 2006
 July 2007


 
 Woodburn Primary
 Other
 June 2008
 August 2009


 North Ayrshire
 Ardrossan Academy
 Other
 
 June 2007


 
 Arran High
 PPP
 April 2006
 January 2008


 
 Glencairn Primary
 Other
 2006-07
 January 2009


 
 Greenwood Academy
 PPP
 March 2006
 October 2007


 
 Irvine Royal Academy
 Other
 2007-08
 June 2007


 
 Largs Academy
 Other
 2006-07
 2007-08


 
 St. Matthew’s High
 PPP
 March 2006
 October 2007


 
 Stanley Primary
 PPP
 May 2006
 September 2007


 North Lanarkshire
 Bargeddie
 PPP
 July 2006
 December 2007


 
 St Kevin’s Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 December 2007


 
 Cambusnethan Primary
 PPP
 May 2006
 August 2007


 
 Clarkston Primary
 PPP
 July 2006
 October 2008


 
 Coatbridge High 
 PPP
 October 2006
 October 2008


 
 Eastfield Primary
 Other
 February 2007
 November 2007


 
 Holy Cross Primary
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Kilsyth Academy
 Other
 October 2005
 April 2008


 
 Our Lady’s High, Cumbernauld
 Other
 October 2005
 October 2007


 
 St. Aidan’s High 
 Other
 September 2005
 June 2008


 
 St. Ignatius Primary
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2007


 
 Wishaw Primary
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2007


 
 St. Patrick’s Primary, Kilsyth
 PPP
 July 2006
 August 2007


 
 Stepps Primary
 PPP
 June 2006
 November 2007


 Orkney Islands
 Papdale Primary
 Other
 January 2007
 December 2008


 Perth and Kinross
 Blairgowrie Community Campus (Primary and Secondary)
 PPP
 January 2008
 July 2009


 
 Dunning Primary
 Other
 April 2007
 October 2008


 
 Errol Primary
 Other
 February 2008
 August 2009


 
 Fairview School
 Other
 December 2006
 April 2008


 Renfrewshire
 Bushes Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 April 2008


 
 Castlehead High
 Other
 
 August 2008


 
 Cochrane Castle Primary 
 PPP
 May 2006
 May 2008


 
 St David’s Primary
 PPP
 May 2006
 May 2008


 
 Fordbank Primary
 PPP
 February 2006
 August 2007


 
 Glencoats Primary
 PPP
 March 2006
 August 2007


 
 Gryffe High 
 Other
 August 2006
 August 2007


 
 Linwood High 
 PPP
 August 2006
 January 2008


 
 St Charles’ Primary
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Woodlands Primary
 PPP
 March 2006
 August 2007


 Scottish Borders
 Berwickshire High
 PPP
 October 2006
 February 2009


 
 Denholm Primary
 Other
 September 2007
 October 2008


 
 Eyemouth High 
 PPP
 October 2006
 March 2009


 
 Heriot Primary 
 Other
 March 2007
 September 2007


 
 Priorsford Primary
 Other
 February 2007
 December 2007


 South Ayrshire
 Alloway Primary
 PPP
 March 2007
 April 2008


 
 Barassie Primary
 PPP
 April 2007
 April 2008


 
 Belmont Academy
 PPP
 February 2007
 August 2008


 
 Dalmilling Primary
 Other
 July 2007
 February 2009


 
 Kincaidston Primary
 Other
 
 2008-09


 
 Kyle Academy (extension)
 PPP
 March 2007
 February 2008


 
 Monkton Primary
 PPP
 February 2007
 April 2008


 
 Muirhead Primary
 Other
 July 2007
 February 2009


 
 Prestwick Academy
 PPP
 March 2007
 October 2008


 South Lanarkshire
 Blacklaw Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 May 2008


 
 Burgh Primary
 Other
 January 2007
 February 2008


 
 Calderglen High 
 PPP
 November 2005
 February 2008


 
 Sanderson High (Special)
 PPP
 November 2005
 February 2008


 
 Calderside Academy
 PPP
 October 2005
 January 2008


 
 Carluke High
 PPP
 October 2005
 November 2007


 
 Carluke Primary
 Other
 July 2006
 August 2007


 
 Cathkin High
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2008


 
 Rutherglen High (Special)
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2008


 
 Craigbank Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 May 2008


 
 Crosshouse Primary
 Other
 January 2007
 January 2008


 
 Duncanrig Secondary
 PPP
 December 2005
 August 2007


 
 Hareleeshill Primary
 Other
 October 2006
 November 2007


 
 Holy Cross High
 PPP
 October 2005
 August 2007


 
 John Ogilvie High 
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2008


 
 Lesmahagow High
 PPP
 October 2005
 August 2007


 
 Loch Primary
 Other
 March 2008
 February 2009


 
 St. Andrew’s and St Bride’s High 
 PPP
 October 2005
 August 2007


 
 St. Anne’s Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 August 2008


 
 St. Athanasuis Primary
 Other
 September 2007
 August 2008


 
 St. Blane’s Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 August 2008


 
 St. John the Baptist Primary
 Other
 March 2008
 February 2009


 
 St. John’s Primary, Hamilton
 Other
 July 2006
 January 2008


 
 St. Ninian’s Primary
 Other
 February 2008
 August 2009


 
 Uddingston Grammar 
 PPP
 June 2006
 January 2009


 
 Wester Overton Primary 
 Other
 January 2007
 February 2008


 Stirling
 Aberfoyle Primary 
 Other
 April 2008
 October 2008


 
 Braehead Primary 
 Other
 May 2008
 August 2008


 
 Bridge of Allan Primary 
 Other
 May 2008
 August 2008


 
 Cambusbarron Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 December 2007


 
 Cowie Primary 
 Other
 July 2007
 April 2008


 
 Dunblane High 
 PPP
 March 2006
 November 2007


 
 McLaren High 
 PPP
 June 2006
 August 2008


 
 Raploch Primary
 PPP
 March 2006
 January 2008


 
 Our Lady’s Primary
 PPP
 March 2006
 January 2008


 
 Castleview School (Special)
 PPP
 March 2006
 January 2008


 
 St. Modans’s RC High 
 PPP
 July 2006
 June 2008


 
 Stirling High
 PPP
 April 2006
 February 2008


 
 Wallace High
 PPP
 May 2006
 April 2008


 West Lothian
 Armadale Academy
 PPP
 August 2007
 August 2009


 
 Bankton Primary
 Other
 October 2007
 March 2009


 
 Linllithgow Academy
 Other
 April 2007
 October 2008


 
 Williamston Primary
 Other
 November 2007
 September 2008

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 36 new or refurbished schools referred to in its news release of 8 October 2009 as completed since publication of SPICe Briefing 09/72, broken down, where applicable, by (a) procurement method, (b) date when the outline business case was approved and (c) date when construction commenced.

Fiona Hyslop: The news release of 8 October 2009 referred to a further 36 school projects which had been completed since March 2009, rather than since the publication of the SPICe Briefing 09/72 on 7 October 2009. The list of 236 new or refurbished school projects completed since May 2007, which was provided in the answer to S3W-28634 on 16 November 2009, includes 36 school renewal or refurbishment projects that were completed since March 2009.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the online School Estate Statistics 2009 were altered between the evening of 7 October 2009 and the morning of 8 October 2009 and what changes were made.

Fiona Hyslop: Following the publication of the School Estate Statistics 2009 on 29 September 2009, it transpired that a programming error had led to an incorrect table being produced. Whilst quality assurance work was being progressed, additional concerns were identified and revised information was provided by two local authorities on the afternoon of 7 October 2009. Statisticians in Scottish Government completed further quality assurance work and were in a position to publish the revised publication later that evening.

  Two separate revisions were made to table 4 of the publication The following table presents the revisions (as a result of the programming error) to the number of primary schools rebuilt or substantially refurbished (non-PPP methods) in the last financial year:

  

 
Revised Statistics Published on 
  7 October
Statistics Published on 
  29 September


 Angus
 2
 1


 East Dunbartonshire 
 1
 0


 East Lothian 
 4
 2


 Edinburgh, City of
 1
 0


 Falkirk 
 2
 1


 Glasgow City 
 9
 8


 Highland 
 2
 1


 Inverclyde
 2
 0


 Midlothian 
 3
 2


 North Ayrshire
 1
 0


 North Lanarkshire 
 2
 1


 Orkney Islands 
 1
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 2
 0


 Renfrewshire
 1
 0


 Scottish Borders
 2
 0


 South Ayrshire
 3
 1


 South Lanarkshire 
 8
 6


 Stirling 
 3
 2



  A revision was also made to Argyll and Bute and Glasgow data (picked up during quality assurance checks) concerning the number of "completed PPP/NPD new build or PPP/NPD refurbished schools" in the last financial year. These are:

  In the revised publication Argyll and Bute are recorded as having no PPP primary schools, newly refurbished or completed. In the original publication four PPP primary schools had been reported, and

  In the revised publication Glasgow are recorded as having no PPP primary schools (compared to one in the original publication) and no PPP special schools (compared with one in the original publication).

  The revision to the School Estate Statistics 2009 was the subject of an exception report to the UK Statistics Authority. This report is available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About/nsbreaches.

Scottish Enterprise

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the established Scottish Enterprise regional advisory boards.

Jim Mather: The membership of Scottish Enterprise’s (SE’s) regional advisory boards is an operational matter for that body. I have, therefore, written to SE’s Chief Executive, Lena Wilson, asking her to respond to you directly on this issue.

Scottish Enterprise

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where the established Scottish Enterprise regional advisory boards are located.

Jim Mather: The location and other matters related to the administration of Scottish Enterprise’s (SE’s) regional advisory boards are an operational matter for that body. I have, therefore, written to SE’s Chief Executive, Lena Wilson, asking her to respond to you directly on this question.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the economic conditions were that allowed tendering for the PPP hubCo projects in the south east and north to proceed.

Nicola Sturgeon: Through hub, the Scottish Futures Trust are putting in place arrangements for long-term partnerships. The model is flexible and will be able to be used for both publicly and privately financed projects. The south east and north pathfinder projects decided to proceed on the basis of a firm commitment from their public sector participants (NHS and local government) to the process, a strong pipeline of projects and a confirmed high level of market interest following market soundings.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the private sector will be investing equity in the hubCo projects.

Nicola Sturgeon: The private sector will have a 60% share holding in each hubCo and will also invest equity in any revenue-funded hub projects along with their public sector partners.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether private sector investors will be prevented from making a profit from their participation in the hubCo projects.

Nicola Sturgeon: Profits generated by the hubCo will be shared between the public sector and the private sector to reflect their respective shareholdings in the hubCo. On individual hubCo projects, a mechanism will be put in place to ensure that unexpected or windfall profits (if any) that accrue are shared with the public sector organisation(s) paying for the particular project in question. Ultimately returns will therefore be capped.

Scottish Government Funding

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its financial contribution is to the Fairer Scotland Fund to support credit unions in the (a) South Lanarkshire, (b) North Lanarkshire, (c) Falkirk and (d) East Ayrshire local authority area.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government’s £435 million Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) has been allocated to all 32 local authorities and their community planning partners to regenerate communities, tackle poverty and improve employment prospects. Decisions on the investment of the FSF are a matter for each local authority area and as such the amount of FSF invested in credit unions is not held centrally.

  In delivering on its commitment to developing an enterprising third sector, which includes credit unions, the Scottish Government has also made available £42 million of third sector funding. Credit unions are eligible to apply for this funding, which includes £250,000 specifically for credit union development. To date, credit unions’ in South Lanarkshire (£90,500), Falkirk (£43,500) and Ayrshire (£49,000) have had bids approved for grant funding.

Suicide

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many suicides there were in each year since 1999, also broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested can be found on the General Register Office for Scotland Website, by selecting table 4, using the following link:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/deaths/suicides/index.html.

Tourism

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government over the repealing of the furnished holiday lettings rules proposed in the UK Budget.

Jim Mather: I discussed the proposed repeal of the furnished holiday lettings rules with other Ministers at a recent meeting of the UK tourism ministers and I have written to HM Treasury to express concern about the impact of the proposals on the self-catering sector.

Tourism

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact that the proposed repeal of the furnished holiday lettings rules will have on the holiday lettings industry.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials are currently working with representatives of the self-catering sector to assess the impact the proposed repeal of the furnished holiday lettings rules would have on the holiday lettings industry in Scotland.

Tourism

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of (a) how many people claimed for and (b) how much was claimed in tax relief for expenditure on furnished holiday letting properties in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold this information as taxation matters are currently reserved to the UK Government. We expect HM Revenue and Customs to publish the draft Regulations to implement the change and a Regulatory Impact Assessment with the pre-Budget Report shortly.

Voluntary Sector

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for charities to receive funds from the £1.7 million Third Sector Resilience Fund.

John Swinney: The fund will be available to third sector organisations which can demonstrate that they provide essential front-line services which, as a result of the recession, require short-term financial support to maintain these services. Examples of the how the recession has affected organisations can include the loss or withdrawal of income from trusts and investments or the extraordinarily increased demand for services.

  Full details of the application process and further guidance are available at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/15300/funding/ResilienceFundStrategy1.

Voluntary Sector

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be responsible for the dispersal of funds from the Third Sector Resilience Fund.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has worked closely with third sector partners in developing the Third Sector Resilience Fund. The fund will be administered by the Scottish Government and all eligible applications will be considered by a panel which includes representatives from the third sector.

Voluntary Sector

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications to the Third Sector Resilience Fund from organisations that have been affected by the collapse of the Kaupthing Bank will be given special consideration.

John Swinney: All applicants to the Third Sector Resilience Fund must demonstrate that they are suffering financial hardship, and describe how the recession has significantly undermined or adversely affected their services. This can include circumstances where income from trusts or investments has been lost or withdrawn.

  All eligible applications will be considered by a panel which includes representatives from the third sector.